India for beginners: 5 sustainable travel tips for the coastal region of Goa
My sustainable world trip has now taken me to the beautiful Indian coastal region of Goa. Many people think of Goa as a hippie haven or a party vacation. But this place has so much more to offer. I would like to dispel these stereotypes. In this blog article, I'll show you why Goa is a wonderful place for eco-conscious vacationers:inside who want to travel to India. Together with my good friend and travel blogger Kaushal aka Exotic Gringo, I show you the vibrant and sustainable IMPACT side of India.
1. Take a historical and sustainable city tour
Travel blogger Kaushal and I start in Panaji, now the capital of the coastal state of Goa, with a sustainable city tour. On foot, of course. In the process, I learn that Goa was a Portuguese colony. We stroll through the Portuguese quarter past 185-year-old villas. I admire the influences of European architecture and enjoy the traffic-calmed streets, which are rare for India. In the tile museums Galeria Azulejos and Centre for Indo-Portuguese Arts we learn more about the local craftsmanship of the Indo-Portuguese artists. We also visit the "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church", one of the trademarks of the city. For another little excursion, I recommend you to go to Goa Velha, where the churches are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides churches, there are of course also Hindu temples. Together with Kaushal I visit a temple in the neighborhood - the last stop of the city tour. He shows me how to paint a bindi - the orange, white or red dot - between my eyebrows. "Cultural exchange like this, is what slow and sustainable travel is all about for me. Looks good on you, by the way, your bindi," Kaushal says charmingly.
2. Discovering music and art
The next day with Kaushal is themed around art and Goa music. As the name suggests, the music genre is from... well, Goa. You'll hear the Goan original at regular festivals like HillTop Festival in Vagator - a real must-go of the trance music scene and nightlife. If you don't want to travel with 112 beats per minute, I can also recommend the Madragoa venue. Here you can experience small and intimate concert evenings. You'll listen to the Goan music style Mandó as well as the iconic Portuguese genre Fado. Fado has been a cultural heritage since 2011 and has been added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Another artistic oasis is the Sunaparanta Art Café, Goa Centre for the Arts. It's best to check the program to see what all is planned during your vacation in terms of local cultural offerings. I was very impressed by the current exhibition Growing Like A Tree: Sent A Letter. By the way, this place also has a very delicious coffee that you can enjoy in the green courtyard. Apart from that, there is also the Barefoot Goa: Coffe, Cocktails, Clean food & Gigs. There are live music events there, where also local artists:inside and young designers:inside like RinitheShop exhibit. At the end there was even a short dance flash mob of dance-loving Indians - almost like in Bollywood.
3. Celebrating Carnival in India
Dancing is also part of the carnival procession. Now you are probably asking yourself, "How? Carnival in India?" I am very surprised myself. Its origins date back to the time when Goa was a Portuguese colony and it was a Catholic festival. Thus, this festival has been around for over 500 years. While the carnival is inspired by old traditions and Indian characters like King Momo, today it stands more for a new socially awakened Goa. Kaushal explains to me that, just like in Germany, the floats also deal with social issues such as "animal rescue". His mother and my friend Flo also accompany us to the carnival parade. The best float in our opinion has a huge wild boar robot that can turn 360 degrees like a rodeo cow and threatens the spectators:inside with wild eyes. The next trailer breaks up the action with a fitting slogan: "I'm not crossing your road. You are crossing my forest."
4. Vegetarian specialties to touch
Another highlight that makes Goa a sustainable destination is the local cuisine. I have never been able to eat vegetarian food so easily and naturally. Here, you don't need a HappyCow app to search for vegan options. Plant-based food is so normal that meat dishes are even specially marked "non-veg" on menus. That's because of the Hindu culture of Indians:in, who eat little meat because of their faith. But as a flexitarian - a person who eats meat every now and then - I turned a blind eye to a seafood specialty. That's because Goa is known for its delicious "fish thali." It's a big plate of different fish curries with sauces and rice that you should definitely try here. For that, I recommend the Anandashram restaurant. For Indian dishes, I invite you to eat with your washed hands. "Now you are eating with all your senses and you can appreciate it better. Besides, the cooks are happy when they see you eating it with your hands," Kaushal tells me.
5. Enjoying the beautiful nature of Goa
Besides the fantastic local food with Kaushal, I was especially excited about the nature or the wilderness of India. Even in the middle of the capital city, Panaji, there is a Mangrove Boardwalk. If you walk over the wooden floor, you can see the Mandovi River below you. The intertwined roots, some of which grow above the ground, are impressive. "Instead of walking, by the way, you can paddle," Kaushal reveals. Just grab a kayak and explore the Mandovi River from a different side. As mentioned in my article Garbage Collection on Romantic Kajak Tour, you can also do a little IMPACT while canoeing.
If you want to relax and enjoy Slow Travelling, you should definitely check this place out. Speaking of relaxing: There are also wonderful yoga retreats here where you can unwind your soul. There you can practice yoga on the wide sandy beaches, walk along or jump into the sea and ride the waves there. However, if you're looking for more nature adventures here, I can only recommend the blog article about snake whisperer and jungle guide Aaron.
Goa is an unforgettable adventure that I highly recommend. It's incredibly diverse and ideal for sustainable travelers. Want to get even more IMPACT while traveling? Then be sure to check out the next article about Goa. I'll just say wild dolphins.
Best regards,
Yours, Franzi
